It had been a year since the pups had come into the world and it had been a year since adoption day. Even though it was a long time ago, the day still burnt inside Soul and Rex’s memory. Only three pups had been taken to new homes and no one had adopted Nita or Lisa yet, but they were still hoping.

‘ How long will it take for us to get adopted Dad?’ Nita asked as she and Lisa played outside a forest.

‘ I don’t know…most humans already have dogs and we’ll just have to wait until a new human comes to town. I waited and I’ve got a human.’ Rex explained as he watched them tumble and roll over.

‘ And how did you get a human? Were you put in box with your brothers and sisters?’ Lisa asked as she stopped playing.

‘ Yes, I was put in a box, but a human didn’t pick me up, I didn’t really know until I saw my reflection with your mother. Then I put myself on a racing team and…I won the race and I’ve also been known as a miracle to most dogs, like Cloud and Diamond.’ Rex explained, but he knew that he wasn’t telling the entire story.

‘ Who’s Cloud and Diamond?’ Nita asked as she stared at Rex with her bright blue eyes. Her coat didn’t shine when the sun hit it, but it still glittered. She had her fathers colours, but Aleu's markings. On her front left leg was a birthmark, but not a normal one. It was shaped like a wolf howling and it wrapped around her leg.

‘ Cloud and Diamond are a father and daughter. After a cougar attack when Diamond was a pup, she was thought to be dead, but she wasn’t and I got them back together.’ Rex explained.

‘ How did you do it?’ Lisa asked as she scratched her white ear. Her amber eyes were stuck on Rex though.

‘ I’ll tell you some other time.’ Rex said. Lisa and Nita then went back to playing, but Nita then stopped and concentrated on the forest next to her. The pine trees towered over her as she walked towards them.

‘Nita! You know that we can’t go in there, Dad said that there are wolves, bears and lots of other wild animals that we aren’t allowed to encounter. We have to go anyway. Come on!’ Lisa explained as she pulled Nita away.

****

  ‘ Hey! Nita, aren’t you late for brain surgery? Oh, wait! There’s no brain to do it on!’

‘ Vince. Shouldn’t you be at the circus doing a freak show? ‘Cause, you are the main attraction.’ Nita said as she turned to see a Pointer about her age. He had no colour in his eyes and he had been in many fights as you could see from his scars.

‘ Don’t try and be funny or you’re asking for a fight.’ Vince said.

‘ OK. Then I’ll go.’ Nita said as she started walking towards her house. Vince then turned away and went to his house.

In Rex’s house, he and Lisa were eating from their bowls.

‘Nita, you know that you’re meant to come inside before dusk. The moon’s already out.’ Rex said as he ate the last bits of food.

‘ I know Dad, but it was Vince again. He keeps bullying me about me being part German Shepard and my birthmark. I hate the guy.’ Nita said as she walked over to her bowl.

 ‘ You’ve got to ignore him.’ Lisa said as she finished her food.

‘ Your sister’s right.’ Rex said as he sat by a fire.

‘ I know, but I feel like killing him.’ Nita said as she sat next to her father. Lisa did the same, but lay down beside him.

‘ It’s getting late now and your mother can’t visit tonight. Try get some sleep girls.’ Rex said as his human went upstairs to his bed.

‘ Since Mom isn’t coming, can you sing something for us?’ Lisa asked.

‘ OK. I’ll try, but only a short one,’ Rex said. He then cleared his throat and hummed a few bars.

‘ Somebody wants you,
 Somebody needs you,
Someone is searching for your heart alone,
Someone is dreaming, waiting and watching,
Someone is coming to take you home.

Time it will fly like the sun in the sky,
And once was hello will turn to goodbye.

 Tomorrow is here now,
Child of my heart,
Sings in your ear now,
Your life is your own,

 Never you fear now,

 Your path is clear now,

 Someone who loves you,

 Someone who loves you is taking you home.’

Nita and Lisa were soon asleep. Rex just managed to shut his eyes before sleeping.

 The next morning, Rex and his daughters went to the forest border, but not to close.

 ‘ Dad, can we go in the forest?’ Nita asked.

 ‘ No. It’s forbidden, you know that.’ Rex answered as he lay on the ground.

 ‘ But why is it? There’s nothing wrong with the forest, it’s never hurt you.’ Nita protested.

 ‘ It has. Deeply, it nearly changed history. If your mother hadn’t rescued me, you wouldn’t be born.’ Rex said as he lifted his head, but looked away from his daughter. Lisa then pulled Nita away from him.

 ‘ You plonker! Have you never heard the story of when Dad fought a wolverine in the forest and then he wouldn’t leave, but then Mom pulled him away from it? And did you listen to the long tale of how Dad got lost in there and Mom went to rescue him, but she went over a waterfall and Dad saved her?’ Lisa asked.

 ‘ But there is no proof that he fought a wolverine…’ Nita started protesting, but Lisa stopped her.

 ‘ Look at him!’ Lisa said as she turned Nita’s head to Rex.

‘ All I see is a dark coloured husky with a scar over his eye.’ Nita said as she saw Rex stand up and scratch himself. Lisa then ran over to her father and played with him. Nita felt ashamed that she never noticed what her Dad had to face in the forest. She then ran over to Rex, but then stopped half way.

 ‘Nita…’

'Nita! It’s time to go home!’ Rex shouted. Nita followed with the sound of her name in her head. As she went home, she heard Vince snickering behind her.

 ‘ What is it?’ Nita asked.

 ‘ Just came to tell you that my owner told me about your great aunt, Aleu. Boy, was she a weird one, just like you!’ Vince said. Something inside Nita snapped and she threw herself onto Vince and started clawing and biting him. Lisa saw what happened and ran to her dad.

 ‘ Dad!!’ Lisa shouted as she ran.

 ‘ What’s wrong?’ Rex asked.

 ‘ Nita’s in a fight!’ Lisa said quickly. She and Rex then ran over to the fight.

 ‘ Nita!’ Rex shouted as he approached his daughter and Vince. They soon stopped and Vince ran away.

 ‘ Dad?’ Nita asked. Rex towered over Nita with angry eyes and a frown.

 ‘ What were you thinking?’ He asked as he helped Nita stand up.

 ‘ I’m sorry Dad. He made me angry by making up a dog and then telling me that she was related to me.’ Nita replied.

 ‘ And what was this dog’s name?’ Rex asked.

 ‘ Aleu or something like that.’ Nita answered.

 ‘ Oh, no,’ Rex thought as he pictured what Aleu did when she found out. ‘ What did he say about this Aleu?’

 ‘ Saying that she was weird like me.’ Nita said as she and her family walked to the house. When they got home, Lisa and Rex went to bed straight away, but Nita stayed up. She looked out of her window as questions went through her mind.

 ‘ What’s wrong with me? I’m a husky, but huskies get adopted. The forest isn’t so dangerous…Dad got into a fight and Mom went over a waterfall.’ Nita thought. She then heard something behind her.

 ‘ Nita, I’m just doing something that I forgot to do earlier. I’ll be back as soon as I can.’ Rex said as he went out the door.

 ‘ I wonder…it didn’t sound important or private…’ Nita thought as she looked out the door. She saw Rex run to the outside of town, she then slipped out the door and ran after him. Once she caught up with him, he was inside the mine shack.

  'Hi Rex.’

 ‘ Is Soul here yet?’

 ‘ She’s talking.’

 ‘ I should go, but if I just have a peep, I won’t have any more questions about what he’s doing.’ Nita thought. She then crept to the door and looked inside. There were about 10-20 dogs in there including Rex and Soul and there was Jenna on a stage.

 ‘ Thank you for coming tonight. First on stage is Rex and Soul!’ She said.

 ‘ Mom and Dad? What are they gonna do?’ Nita asked herself.

 Rex: It’s hard to believe,

 That I couldn’t see,

 You were always there beside me.

Soul: Thought I was alone,
 With no one to hold.

 ‘Making my way downtown
Walking fast
Faces pass
And I'm home bound

Staring blankly ahead
Just making my way
Making a way
Through the crowd

And I need you
And I miss you
And now I wonder....

If I could fall
Into the sky
Do you think time
Would pass me by
'Cause you know I'd walk
A thousand miles
If I could
Just see you
Tonight

It's always times like these
When I think of you
And I wonder
If you ever
Think of me

'Cause everything's so wrong
And I don't belong
Living in your
Precious memories

'Cause I need you
And I miss you
And now I wonder....

If I could fall
Into the sky
Do you think time
Would pass me by
'Cause you know I'd walk
A thousand miles
If I could
Just see you
Tonight…’ Soul sang. Everyone howled and applauded. ‘ That was for when Rex went to the wolf pack.’

‘ Next, it’s Dakoda.’ Jenna said.

‘ Dakoda? Isn’t she dead?’ Nita thought as Dakoda got onto stage.

‘Come stop your crying
It will be all right
Just take my hand Hold it tight

I will protect you
from all around you
I will be here
Don't you cry

For one so small,
you seem so strong
My arms will hold you,
keep you safe and warm
This bond between us
Can't be broken
I will be here
Don't you cry

'Cause you'll be in my heart
Yes, you'll be in my heart
From this day on
Now and forever more

You'll be in my heart
No matter what they say
You'll be here in my heart, always.’ Dakoda sung. ‘ That was a lullaby that I would sing to Rex every night.’

‘ Mom! You’re embarrassing me!’ Rex said.

‘ Mom?!’ Nita shouted. She then realised what she had done and ran to an open window.

‘ Next is Gabriella singing and extract to a very touching song.’ Jenna said.

‘I am a mountain
I am a tall tree
Ohhh, I am a swift wind
Sweepin' the country
I am a river
Down in the valley
Ohhh, I am a vision
 I can see clearly
If anybody asks you who I am
Just stand up tall look 'em in the face and say

I'm that star up in the sky
I'm that mountain peak up high
Hey, I made it
I'm the worlds greatest
And I'm that little bit of hope
When my backs against the ropes
I can feel it, I'm the worlds greatest

I am a giant
I am an eagle
I am a lion
Down in the jungle
I am a marchin' band
I am the people
I am a helpin' hand
And I am a hero
If anybody asks you who I am
Just stand up tall look 'em in the Face and say

I'm that star up in the sky
I'm that mountain peak up high
I made it
I'm the worlds greatest